Papal Emblem

I apologize for the lack of posts over the last few days. There is not much ecclesial news happening around these parts. When the Pope goes on vacation for the summer the Catholic news cycle slows down quite dramatically.

The most interesting tid-bit that has emerged within the last week is the Vatican’s release of modifications to the norms on grave crimes against the church. The official notice from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated:

[T]he Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith…held it necessary to proceed with a reform of the [Normae de gravioribus delictis], emending it not in its entirety, but only in certain areas, in order to render the text more useful.

The most significant adjustments within the document come in response to two particular offenses: the molestation of minors by priests and the ordination of women.

That, in itself, has sparked a bit of an uproar over the last few days. Many people in the secular media and in the Church have questioned why the Vatican would condemn the sexual abuse of minors by priests and the ordination of women in the same document.

Many believe the church is saying the ordination of women to the priesthood is equivalent to the molestation of children by priests. This is simply not the case. By grouping the two together, Rome is confirming that these are two important issues that are currently facing the Church.

Should the Vatican have released two different documents? Maybe. I do not believe that Rome ever imagined it would receive such intense scrutiny over this document. One thing is clear, however; many have overlooked the most important aspect of this document—what it actually says.

Introducing the changes to the norms regarding the sexual abuse of minors, Bishop Blase Cupich, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Protection of Children and Young People, stated:

The seriousness with which the church views sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric cannot be understated. By putting child sexual abuse by clergy in the same context as the safeguarding of the sacraments, the Church is making it clear that such misconduct violates the core values of our faith and worship.

Today the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith notes that the abuse of the mentally impaired, no matter what the person’s age, is horrific. Abuse of someone who cannot defend himself or herself is craven, cowardly behavior.

Welcome, too, is the recognition that the crime of child pornography damages not just those who pursue it, but any child degraded in the making of it. Child pornography is a degradation of any child of God. A priest’s involvement with it is particularly offensive.

The document makes law of measures that have already been in use by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith to facilitate handling of cases brought to the Vatican. This is an important step in the continuing effort to achieve justice for innocent people whose trust in a cleric was violated.

The new norms on clergy sexual abuse make it clear: the Church will not tolerate such abuses! These “new” norms have been in practice for quite some time. The CDF is simply making them known to all the Bishops of the Church so that they, too, can implement similar policies.

In regards to the ordination of women, Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Doctrine, stated:

The seven sacraments are an integral and identifying part of the Catholic Church and the faith life of each Catholic. To feign any sacrament would be egregious. The Catholic Church through its long and constant teaching holds that ordination has been, from the beginning, reserved to men, a fact which cannot be changed despite changing times.

All Catholics are called to Christian service. Women have responded with extraordinary generosity. Historically, women have had an essential role in the life of the Church. This is true especially through their volunteer work in parishes, their professional service and their membership in religious communities, lay movements and other organizations, where they serve in a range of areas such as health care and education…

The Church’s gratitude to women cannot be stated strongly enough. Women offer unique insight, creative abilities and unstinting generosity at the very heart of the Catholic Church. Their activity and determinative participation explains much of what makes the Catholic Church the powerful force for goodness and holiness that it is.

Simply put, because the priesthood has always been reserved for men within the church, the ordination of women to participate in the priesthood of Jesus Christ is not acceptable. However, that does not mean that women have no role in ministry. The amount of women in ministry in the U.S. is staggering, as Archbishop Wuerl illustrated. They perform a great service to the Church and are to be commended for the carrying out of their baptismal call.

Sources: (1) USCCB: Normae de gravioribus delictis; (2) USCCB: Bishops Welcome Update of Vatican Norms on Sexual Abuse; (3) USCCB: U.S. Bishops’ Doctrine Chairman Welcomes Vatican Clarification On Ordination…

Source: Catholic Online

Tomorrow it is expected that Pope Benedict XVI will appoint Bishop Kurt Koch, current Bishop of Basel and former president of the conference of Swiss Bishops,  as the head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. (In fact, the appointment has already been confirmed by Fr. Federico Lombardi.) Bishop Koch replaces Cardinal Walter Kasper who has served on the council since 1999.

Koch was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Basel on June 20, 1982. On August 21, 1995, he was elected Bishop of the the same diocese. Koch was ordained to the episcopacy on January 6, 1996 by Pope John Paul II.

The news of this appointment is already getting support from the World Council of Churches general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit:

“We rejoice at the appointment of Bishop Kurt Koch as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity”, said Tveit commenting on the news. “We welcome his appointment and look forward to working with him for the visible unity of the church”, he added.

Tveit said that “Bishop Koch is well known for his openness and deep ecumenical commitment. His book ‘That all may be one; Ecumenical perspectives’ is an excellent summary of the present state of ecumenical dialogue and relations”.

“We see in Bishop Koch a reliable partner for all those involved in the ecumenical movement and trust he will continue Cardinal Walter Kasper’s emphasis on spiritual ecumenism”, Tveit said.

“Bishop Koch has been given a very important responsibility as the call for all Christians to be one comes from Jesus Christ himself”, Tveit said. “I wish him much joy in fulfilling this calling, and that God may give him strength.”

More to come…stay tuned.

Source: World Council of Churches

To the glory of Almighty God and the praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the apostles Peter and Paul, and of the Holy Roman Church, for the honor of the Churches, which have been placed in your care, and as a symbol of your authority as metropolitan archbishop: We confer on you the pallium taken from the tomb of Peter to wear within the limits of your ecclesiastical provinces.

May this pallium be a symbol of unity
and a sign of your communion with the Apostolic See,
a bond of love, and an incentive to courage.
On the day of the coming and manifestation
of our great God and chief shepherd, Jesus Christ,
may you and the flock entrusted to you
be clothed with immortality and glory.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski:

Archbishop Thomas Wenski receives the Pallium | Reuters

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr:

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr receives the Pallium | Reuters

Archbishop Jerome Listecki:

Archbishop Jerome Listecki receives the Pallium | Reuters

Video Source: CatholicTV

Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, Rome | Source: Getty

Dear brothers and sisters!

The biblical texts of this Eucharistic Liturgy of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, in their great wealth, highlight a theme that could be summarized thus: God is close to his faithful servants and frees them from all evil, and frees the Church from negative powers. It is the theme of the freedom of the Church, which has a historical aspect and another more deeply spiritual one.

This theme runs through today’s Liturgy of the Word. The first and second readings speak, respectively, of St Peter and St Paul, emphasizing precisely the liberating action of God in them. Especially the text from the Acts of the Apostles describes in abundant detail the intervention of the Angel of the Lord, who releases Peter from the chains and leads him outside the prison in Jerusalem, where he had been locked up, under close supervision, by King Herod (cf. at 12.1 to 11). Paul, however, writing to Timothy when he feels close to the end of his earthly life, takes stock which shows that the Lord was always near him and freed him from many dangers and frees him still by introducing him into His eternal Kingdom ( see 2 Tim 4, 6-8.17-18). The theme is reinforced by the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 33), and also finds a particular development in the Gospel of Peter’s confession, where Christ promises that the powers of hell shall not prevail against his Church (cf. Mt 16:18).

Observing closely we note a certain progression regarding this issue. In the first reading a specific episode is narrated that shows the Lord’s intervention to free Peter from prison. In the second Paul, on the basis of his extraordinary apostolic experience, is convinced that the Lord, who already freed him “from the mouth of the lion “delivers him” from all evil”, by opening the doors of Heaven to him. In the Gospel we no longer speak of the individual Apostles, but the Church as a whole and its safekeeping from the forces of evil, in the widest and most profound sense. Thus we see that the promise of Jesus – “the powers of hell shall not prevail” on the Church – yes, includes the historical experience of persecution suffered by Peter and Paul and other witnesses of the Gospel, but it goes further, wanting to protect especially against threats of a spiritual order, as Paul himself writes in his Letter to the Ephesians: ” For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens”(Eph 6:12).

Indeed, if we think of the two millennia of Church history, we can see that – as the Lord Jesus had announced (cf. Mt 10.16-33) – Christians have never been lacking in trials, which in some periods and places have assumed the character of real persecution. These, however, despite the suffering they cause, are not the greatest danger for the Church. In fact it suffers greatest damage from what pollutes the Christian faith and life of its members and its communities, eroding the integrity of the Mystical Body, weakening its ability to prophesy and witness, tarnishing the beauty of its face. This reality is already attested in the Pauline Epistle. The First Epistle to the Corinthians, for example, responds to some problems of divisions, inconsistencies, of infidelity to the Gospel which seriously threaten the Church. But the Second Letter to Timothy – of which we heard an excerpt – speaks about the dangers of the “last days”, identifying them with negative attitudes that belong to the world and can infect the Christian community: selfishness, vanity, pride, love of money, etc. (cf. 3.1 to 5). The Apostle’s conclusion is reassuring: men who do wrong – he writes – “will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be plain to all” (3.9). There is therefore a guarantee of freedom promised by God to the Church, it is freedom from the material bonds that seek to prevent or coerce mission, both through spiritual and moral evils, which may affect its authenticity and credibility.

The theme of the freedom of the Church, guaranteed by Christ to Peter, also has a specific relevance to the rite of the imposition of the pallium, which we renew today for thirty-eight metropolitan archbishops, to whom I address my most cordial greeting, extending with it affection to all who have wanted to accompany them on this pilgrimage. Communion with Peter and his successors, in fact, is the guarantee of freedom for the Church’s Pastors and the Communities entrusted to them. It is highlighted on both levels in the aforementioned reflections. Historically, union with the Apostolic See, ensures the particular Churches and Episcopal Conferences freedom with respect to local, national or supranational powers, that can sometimes hinder the mission of the ecclesial Church. Furthermore, and most essentially, the Petrine ministry is a guarantee of freedom in the sense of full adherence to truth and authentic tradition, so that the People of God may be preserved from mistakes concerning faith and morals. Hence the fact that each year the new Metropolitans come to Rome to receive the pallium from the hands of the Pope, must be understood in its proper meaning, as a gesture of communion, and the issue of freedom of the Church gives us a particularly important key for interpretation. This is evident in the case of churches marked by persecution, or subject to political interference or other hardships. But this is no less relevant in the case of communities that suffer the influence of misleading doctrines or ideological tendencies and practices contrary to the Gospel. Thus the pallium becomes, in this sense, a pledge of freedom, similar to the “yoke” of Jesus, that He invites us to take up, each on their shoulders (Mt 11:29-30). While demanding, the commandment of Christ is “sweet and light” and instead of weighing down on the bearer, it lifts him up, thus the bond with the Apostolic See – while challenging – sustains the Pastor and the portion of the Church entrusted to his care, making them freer and stronger.

I would like to draw a final point from the Word of God, in particular from Christ’s promise that the powers of hell shall not prevail against his Church. These words may also have a significant ecumenical value, since, as I mentioned earlier, one of the typical effects of the Devil is division within the Church community. The divisions are in fact symptoms of the power of sin, which continues to act in members of the Church even after redemption. But the word of Christ is clear: ” Non praevalebunt – it will not prevail” (Matt. 16:18). The unity of the Church is rooted in its union with Christ, and the cause of full Christian unity – always to be sought and renewed from generation to generation – is well supported by his prayer and his promise. In the fight against the spirit of evil, God has given us in Jesus the ‘Advocate’, defender, and after his Easter, “another Paraclete” (Jn 14:16), the Holy Spirit, which remains with us always and leads the Church into the fullness of truth (cf. Jn 14:16; 16:13), which is also the fullness of charity and unity. With these feelings of confident hope, I am pleased to greet the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which, in the beautiful custom of reciprocal visits, participates in the celebrations of the patron saints of Rome. Together we thank God for progress in ecumenical relations between Catholics and Orthodox, and we renew our commitment to generously reciprocate to God’s grace, which leads us to full communion.

Dear friends, I cordially greet all of you: Cardinals, Brother Bishops, Ambassadors and civil authorities, in particular the Mayor of Rome, priests, religious and lay faithful. Thank you for your presence. May the Saints Peter and Paul help you to grow in love for the holy Church, the Mystical Body of Christ the Lord and messenger of unity and peace for all men. May they also help you to offer the hardships and sufferings endured for fidelity to the Gospel with joy for her holiness and her mission. May the Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles and Mother of the Church, always watch over you and especially over the Ministry of metropolitan archbishops. With her heavenly help may you always live and act in that freedom that Christ has won for us. Amen.

The homily given by Pope Benedict XVI will be posted as soon as it is translated into English by the Vatican. Be sure to check for updates if you would like to read it.

Source: CatholicTV

2009 Pallium Mass in Rome | REUTERS

Sorry for the lack of posts over the last couple of days, which have been rather eventful for me. On Friday morning I flew out of Orlando International Airport bound for Los Angeles to celebrate the coming together of my brother and his fiancé in matrimony. I flew home last evening. Needless to say, I am a bit tired but still kickin’. So, in case you have been out of the loop in recent days or weeks with your vacation plans, here is a bit of a look at the week ahead (well, at least the first couple of days of it).

This evening, the Holy Father will celebrate vespers for tomorrow’s Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul with the newly installed Metropolitan Archbishops from throughout the world. Tomorrow, a Mass will celebrated where the palliums will be conferred on the new metropolitans, all 38 of them, by Pope Benedict XVI. The pallium is a wool band about “two inches wide, worn about the neck, breast, and shoulders.” When worn by the Pope, the pallium symbolizes the “plenitude of pontifical office.” When worn by metropolitan archbishops, the pallium “typifies their participation in the supreme pastoral power of the pope, who concedes it to them for their proper church provinces.” In other words, it depicts the pastoral bond between the Pontiff and the metropolitan archbishops.

EWTN will air the Mass live, with a catch; in order to see it, you have to be awake at 3:30 am EST. If it isn’t physically possible for you to get up that early (it isn’t for me), the Mass will be aired at noon Eastern on CatholicTV.

For those of us in the US, the Pallium Mass is worth watching as we have three metropolitans receiving palliums. As previously noted, these include: Archbishops Dennis Schnurr from the Archdiocese of Cincinatti, Jerome Listecki from the Archdiocese of Milkwaukee , and Thomas Wenski from the Archdiocese of Miami.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski (Miami) celebrates Mass in Rome

Archbishop Wenski’s massive 300+ member delegation has been spotted in Rome. As mentioned on the mother of all Catholic blogs, “some Polish pilgrims in the Piazza spotted the head of the 1.3 million-member South Florida church… and as the Poles just so happened to have a band at the ready, a jamboree quickly ensued.”

CathOm will have coverage of the pallium celebrations starting with vespers tonight. For now, that’s all I got. I am going to be taking a bit of a break from posting after all of the pallium coverage. I will need a few more days to recover from my brief trip to the City of Angels. (I need a vacation from vacation.) Over the last couple of weeks, I have been doing several posts daily—I never thought that I would ever have that much to say. If the words that appear on this page have touched or inspired any of you, I cannot say that it was of my doing. It can only be the work of the Holy Spirit, which is very humbling for me. To think, it’s amazing how God uses the most insufficient instrument to remind people of the love He has for us.

Until next time, stay cool and keep prayin’. In the midst of your time with the Lord, please say an extra prayer for me. I could always use a little help. Please be assured of my prayers for all of you!

Icon of St. John Vianney

Well folks, it is amazing how fast this year has gone. A year ago today, the Catholic Church began a yearlong celebration of the life of St. John Vianney and the celebration of priests. Known as the Year for Priests, the Holy Father called it a time in which all priests would be invited to deepen their commitment “to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world.”

Throughout this past year, the interior renewal called upon by Pope Benedict took on a new meaning for all Catholics as news erupted of more clergy sex abuse scandals throughout the world. It has been a difficult period for the Church; however, through the experiences of this year, we have come to understand Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection in a new light.  As the  apostles and first disciples of Jesus were weary after his death, so too are we. Even so, we have trust and hope that the Lord will awaken a new springtime in the Church.

A few days ago, the Holy Father concluded the ceremonies of the Year for Priests with a special Mass in St. Peter’s Square with 15,000 priests from across the world concelebrating. In his homily, Benedict stated:

It was to be expected that this new radiance of the priesthood would not be pleasing to the “enemy”; he would have rather preferred to see it disappear, so that God would ultimately be driven out of the world. And so it happened that, in this very year of joy for the sacrament of the priesthood, the sins of priests came to light – particularly the abuse of the little ones, in which the priesthood, whose task is to manifest God’s concern for our good, turns into its very opposite. We too insistently beg forgiveness from God and from the persons involved, while promising to do everything possible to ensure that such abuse will never occur again; and that in admitting men to priestly ministry and in their formation we will do everything we can to weigh the authenticity of their vocation and make every effort to accompany priests along their journey, so that the Lord will protect them and watch over them in troubled situations and amid life’s dangers. Had the Year for Priests been a glorification of our individual human performance, it would have been ruined by these events. But for us what happened was precisely the opposite: we grew in gratitude for God’s gift, a gift concealed in “earthen vessels” which ever anew, even amid human weakness, makes his love concretely present in this world. So let us look upon all that happened as a summons to purification, as a task which we bring to the future and which makes us acknowledge and love all the more the great gift we have received from God.

So, as today “officially” marks the close for the Year for Priests, we are reminded to take a look within ourselves, to see how we can become better instruments of God’s love in the world. Let us examine where we have turned away from God in the past weeks, months, or year. Let us take our infirmities and our weaknesses to God, asking for His forgiveness and His healing through Jesus. And, don’t forget to pray for the church and for all priests.

If you go to confession today, please do not forget that you are able to receive a plenary indulgence, as it is the closing day of the Year for Priests. Here are the guidelines for the indulgence, which were issued at the beginning of the year:

On the first and last days of the Year for Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, on the first Thursdays of the month, or on any other day established by your local ordinary:

1. Attend Mass
2. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
3. Pray for priests
4. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father

Here is a link to the entire decree from the Offices of the Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/rc_trib_appen_doc_20090425_indulg-anno-sacerd_en.html

Source: (1) Benedict XVI’s Homily: Vatican; (2) Guidelines for Plenary Indulgence: USCCB

The weekend after the alumni reunion, the seminary again opened its doors to a large group of people for our fall Vocations Awareness Weekend. The VAW that took place from November 13-15th was rather difficult. There were a lot of young men attending that were seriously considering what God was calling them to do with their lives. However, there were others who were here simply because their parents wanted them to come and who had no intention of looking at the priesthood as something God was calling them to do with their lives. However, the Lord worked through all of it. He used each and every one of the seminarians and priests who were here to show the attendees that God loves them and that He is seeking them to serve the Church and the people of God in some capacity. It was rather humbling to see, in the midst of the sometimes chaotic weekend, that the Lord was using me to reach someone I had never met. It goes to show you that the Lord works with what you have to offer, however limited that offering may be. All we can do is surrender it all to Him because we cannot necessarily see how the Lord is working in others.

After VAW, the rest of the fall semester was normal. By no means is seminary ever normal!! Seminarians are constantly embarking on journeys that travel into the deepest recesses of our personhood and it is rather exhausting in itself. However, to have a lot of extra things back to back, the semester was very exhausting. At the same time, however, all of us felt that we had accomplished a great feat; our exhaustion felt good. But, nonetheless, we all were looking forward to getting back to the regular routine of seminary life. Shortly after getting back into the regular routine, the seminarians had their final exams for the fall semester (all of which I passed–to go on the record) and departed for home to celebrate the Christmas holidays with family and friends.

Over the Christmas break, I was able to spend some amount of time at the feet of the Lord. I asked him to continue guiding me, strengthening me, and illuminating His will for my life. The fall semester was one that was filled with many struggles and the Christmas break showed me that the Lord had something rather interesting in store for me during the spring semester. He was going to be working in me and through me in ways that I could not imagine. When we returned from Christmas break, all of the seminarians breathed a sigh of relief when we noticed that the forthcoming semester was rather normal and tranquil.

“On January 15th, the seminary community went on a Day of Recollection to assist us in switching gears from the Christmas Break and to prepare us for the upcoming academic semester. The Day of Recollection, which only lasted about 20 hours or so, was eye opening for me. It allowed me to really reflect on priestly service and the baptismal call of all. The mini-retreat gave me the opportunity to reflect on how the Lord is working in my life and how he continues to call me to serve His church, His people.” [1]

Our semester continued with the presentation of the junior class’ Humanities Projects on January 28th. The purpose of the projects was to show a connection between the study of humanities (art, music, etc.) with that of religion and/or philosophy. To make the presentations go smoothly and not take five days to present, the juniors were broken up into five groups of three. Each of the groups were asked to choose two humanities categories and prepare a 15 minute presentation on how they are connected to theology or philosophy. Each of the projects were rather good; I was impressed by the work some of my fellow classmates completed. My group chose painting and literature and its correlation to theology; we focused on the Passion story–the Way to the Cross, the Crucifixion, and the Descent from the Cross.

The project had a very profound impact on me because I was able to see how, through painting and literature, the Lord can reach us on a level that is immense. I was reminded of God’s love for each of us. It reminded me that, no matter what we do with our lives, as long as we are praising the Lord and working to serve others, then we are living the life that God wants us to live. But it also reminded me of my sinfulness and how the Lord is constantly calling me to a conversion of heart and mind.

The most intriguing event of the second semester was the visit of a very special alumni for the seminary’s annual Fides et Ratio Conference. This year, the seminary was very blessed to have Ambassador Miguel H. Diaz, United States Ambassador to the Holy See, come and give the annual speech to the seminarians, faculty, and other invited guests. “The purpose of Ambassador Diaz’s speech was to highlight the growing relationship between the United States and the Vatican, especially in the areas where the two countries are working together for the common good of all peoples.”

Ambassador Diaz had a message for the seminarians in attendance:

“We need religious leaders who know the world, who know the issues of the world and who can wrestle them.” He went on to say that “we are not called to flee from the world. The Church is in the midst of the world. The people of faith are called to be there, to be in Haiti, to be wherever human dignity is trampled.” And finally, the ambassador told us that “we have to remember the past because we do not want the future to be that past.”

It was a reminder to all of us that the Lord needs us to stand up for our faith and the morals that He gave us. We need to live in a way that illustrates the love of the Lord. We need to defend the rights of others, putting ourselves last, risking everything we have been given to make the voice of God heard in the world.

After Fides et Ratio, things once again returned to our regular routine. In February, after returning from mid-semester break, we went on a three-day retreat. The retreat was very helpful and grace-filled for me. I was given the opportunity to spend a good amount of time in the presence of the Lord without the distractions of the external world. I was able to focus on my prayer and to truly grow in my relationship with the Lord and with our Blessed Mother. A couple of weeks after the retreat,the seminary community once again opened its doors to guests for our second Vocations Awareness Weekend of the year.

As you can see, the post is getting long again. Therefore, stay tuned for Episode III where I will reflect on the Spring Semester from VAW until the present time as we prepare for graduation and Summer Recess.

PHOTO: (1) St. John Vianney College Seminary; (2) St. John Vianney College Seminary; (3) College of St. Benedict–St. John’s University

Guide to Understanding Basic CDF Procedures concerning Sexual Abuse Allegations

The applicable law is the Motu Proprio “Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela” (MP SST) of 30 April 2001 together with the 1983 Code of Canon Law. This is an introductory guide which may be helpful to lay persons and non-canonists.

A: Preliminary Procedures

The local diocese investigates every allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric.

If the allegation has a semblance of truth the case is referred to the CDF. The local bishop transmits all the necessary information to the CDF and expresses his opinion on the procedures to be followed and the measures to be adopted in the short and long term.

Civil law concerning reporting of crimes to the appropriate authorities should always be followed.

During the preliminary stage and until the case is concluded, the bishop may impose precautionary measures to safeguard the community, including the victims. Indeed, the local bishop always retains power to protect children by restricting the activities of any priest in his diocese. This is part of his ordinary authority, which he is encouraged to exercise to whatever extent is necessary to assure that children do not come to harm, and this power can be exercised at the bishop’s discretion before, during and after any canonical proceeding.

B: Procedures authorized by the CDF

The CDF studies the case presented by the local bishop and also asks for supplementary information where necessary.

The CDF has a number of options:

B1 Penal Processes

The CDF may authorize the local bishop to conduct a judicial penal trial before a local Church tribunal. Any appeal in such cases would eventually be lodged to a tribunal of the CDF.

The CDF may authorize the local bishop to conduct an administrative penal process before a delegate of the local bishop assisted by two assessors. The accused priest is called to respond to the accusations and to review the evidence. The accused has a right to present recourse to the CDF against a decree condemning him to a canonical penalty. The decision of the Cardinals members of the CDF is final.

Should the cleric be judged guilty, both judicial and administrative penal processes can condemn a cleric to a number of canonical penalties, the most serious of which is dismissal from the clerical state. The question of damages can also be treated directly during these procedures.

B2 Cases referred directly to the Holy Father

In very grave cases where a civil criminal trial has found the cleric guilty of sexual abuse of minors or where the evidence is overwhelming, the CDF may choose to take the case directly to the Holy Father with the request that the Pope issue a decree of “ex officio” dismissal from the clerical state. There is no canonical remedy against such a papal decree.

The CDF also brings to the Holy Father requests by accused priests who, cognizant of their crimes, ask to be dispensed from the obligation of the priesthood and want to return to the lay state. The Holy Father grants these requests for the good of the Church (“pro bono Ecclesiae”).

B3 Disciplinary Measures

In cases where the accused priest has admitted to his crimes and has accepted to live a life of prayer and penance, the CDF authorizes the local bishop to issue a decree prohibiting or restricting the public ministry of such a priest. Such decrees are imposed through a penal precept which would entail a canonical penalty for a violation of the conditions of the decree, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state. Administrative recourse to the CDF is possible against such decrees. The decision of the CDF is final.

C. Revision of MP SST

For some time the CDF has undertaken a revision of some of the articles of “Motu Proprio Sacramentorum Sanctitatis tutela”, in order to update the said Motu Proprio of 2001 in the light of special faculties granted to the CDF by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The proposed modifications under discussion will not change the above-mentioned procedures (A, B1-B3).

As more and more news of clerical sexual abuse continues to emerge throughout the world, please continue to pray the Novena for Benedict! He needs more prayers now than ever before. Stand with the Pope!!

SOURCE: Vatican Information Service (VIS)

PHOTO: (1) AFP; (2) Tom Pringle

Holy Week is time when Catholics worldwide feel the pain of dying in Christ.

It comes this year as media reports bring up heartrending, often previously published, stories with a new twist – how the Vatican handled the cases. Efforts to link stories to culpable inaction by Pope Benedict XVI cause reasonable people anguish given all that the pope has tried to do to address this crisis…

For many, the emphasis of Holy Week is on Good Friday, a day that’s good not because Jesus died a terrible death that day, but because the death led to His subsequent resurrection. It holds deep meaning for Catholics now who seek meaning from the tragedy of pedophilia.

Pedophilia has had terrible effect on many and reminds us of sinful humanity than is around us and within us. It has made a long Good Friday for many, especially those victimized by this sin and crime. But as the church has learned while dealing with these wounds, as it did with the crucifixion of Jesus, the pain can lead to a church purified of sin.

With the current spate of news stories about inaction in the face of pedophilia, Catholics rightly feel numbness like that of Holy Saturday when the Apostles and followers of Jesus were stunned by the events around them. The message, however, is that Jesus’ death led to new life. The Church is still learning through its pain. The comfort of Christ awaits, which is something victims/survivors need and deserve and something the entire Church, from Pope Benedict to the newest baptized child, can take hope in.

As we journey throughout Holy Week, take some time to reflect on Jesus’ Passion. Recall Jesus’ struggle of carrying the cross and realize that even He needed help carrying it. Recall Jesus’ words: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 NAB) Most of all, remember that Christ rose from the dead in glory. As in all things, the Church will overcome this struggle. For now, pray for the Pope and the Catholic Church.

SOURCE: USCCB Media Blog | Sr. Mary Ann Walsh

PHOTO SOURCE: AP | BBC News

The Catholic Bishops of the United States have long and consistently advocated for the reform of the American health care system. Their experience in health care and in Catholic parishes has acquainted them with the anguish of mothers who are unable to afford prenatal care, of families unable to ensure quality care for their children, and of those who cannot obtain insurance because of preexisting conditions.

Throughout the discussion on health care over the last year, the bishops have advocated a bipartisan approach to solving our national health care needs. They have urged that all who are sick, injured or in need receive necessary and appropriate medical assistance, and that no one be deliberately killed through an expansion of federal funding of abortion itself or of insurance plans that cover abortion. These are the provisions of the long standing Hyde amendment, passed annually in every federal bill appropriating funds for health care; and surveys show that this legislation reflects the will of the majority of our fellow citizens. The American people and the Catholic bishops have been promised that, in any final bill, no federal funds would be used for abortion and that the legal status quo would be respected.

However, the bishops were left disappointed and puzzled to learn that the basis for any vote on health care will be the Senate bill passed on Christmas Eve. Notwithstanding the denials and explanations of its supporters, and unlike the bill approved by the House of Representatives in November, the Senate bill deliberately excludes the language of the Hyde amendment. It expands federal funding and the role of the federal government in the provision of abortion procedures. In so doing, it forces all of us to become involved in an act that profoundly violates the conscience of many, the deliberate destruction of unwanted members of the human family still waiting to be born.

What do the bishops find so deeply disturbing about the Senate bill? The points at issue can be summarized briefly. The status quo in federal abortion policy, as reflected in the Hyde Amendment, excludes abortion from all health insurance plans receiving federal subsidies. In the Senate bill, there is the provision that only one of the proposed multi-state plans will not cover elective abortions – all other plans (including other multi-state plans) can do so, and receive federal tax credits. This means that individuals or families in complex medical circumstances will likely be forced to choose and contribute to an insurance plan that funds abortions in order to meet their particular health needs.

Further, the Senate bill authorizes and appropriates billions of dollars in new funding outside the scope of the appropriations bills covered by the Hyde amendment and similar provisions. As the bill is written, the new funds it appropriates over the next five years, for Community Health Centers for example (Sec. 10503), will be available by statute for elective abortions, even though the present regulations do conform to the Hyde amendment. Regulations, however, can be changed at will, unless they are governed by statute.

Additionally, no provision in the Senate bill incorporates the longstanding and widely supported protection for conscience regarding abortion as found in the Hyde/Weldon amendment. Moreover, neither the House nor Senate bill contains meaningful conscience protection outside the abortion context. Any final bill, to be fair to all, must retain the accommodation of the full range of religious and moral objections in the provision of health insurance and services that are contained in current law, for both individuals and institutions.

This analysis of the flaws in the legislation is not completely shared by the leaders of the Catholic Health Association. They believe, moreover, that the defects that they do recognize can be corrected after the passage of the final bill. The bishops, however, judge that the flaws are so fundamental that they vitiate the good that the bill intends to promote. Assurances that the moral objections to the legislation can be met only after the bill is passed seem a little like asking us, in Midwestern parlance, to buy a pig in a poke.

What is tragic about this turn of events is that it needn’t have happened. The status quo that has served our national consensus and respected the consciences of all with regard to abortion is the Hyde amendment. The House courageously included an amendment applying the Hyde policy to its Health Care bill passed in November. Its absence in the Senate bill and the resulting impasse are not an accident. Those in the Senate who wanted to purge the Hyde amendment from this national legislation are obstructing the reform of health care.

This is not quibbling over technicalities. The deliberate omission in the Senate Bill of the necessary language that could have taken this moral question off the table and out of play leaves us still looking for a way to meet the President’s and our concern to provide health care for those millions whose primary care physician is now an emergency room doctor. As Pope Benedict told Ambassador to the Holy See Miguel H. Diaz when he presented his credentials as the United States government’s representative to the Holy See, there is “an indissoluble bond between an ethic of life and every other aspect of social ethics.”

Two basic principles, therefore, continue to shape the concerns of the Catholic bishops: health care means taking care of the health needs of all, across the human life span; and the expansion of health care should not involve the expansion of abortion funding and of polices forcing everyone to pay for abortions. Because these principles have not been respected, despite the good that the bill under consideration intends or might achieve, the Catholic bishops regretfully hold that it must be opposed unless and until these serious moral problems are addressed.

SOURCE: Whispers in the Loggia

PHOTO SOURCE: USCCB Media Blog

To Read Cardinal George’s letter, please visit: http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2010/10-043.shtml

Benedict XVI, the first pope with his own YouTube channel and presence on Facebook, is urging Roman Catholic clergy to use social media to communicate with parishioners and reach those outside the church.

“Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis,” the Pope declared in January in preparation for World Communications Day in May.

But the Catholic Church, including the Orlando Diocese, has policies that take the “social” out of social media. Parishes that use social media, such as Facebook, are instructed to disable the comment functions of those sites.

The Orlando Diocese’s rules for the use of social media, enacted in August after six months of study and debate, expressly prohibit blogs because they imply two-way communication that encourages responses from the public, said Carole Brinati, Diocese spokeswomen.

“Blogging is ‘I can comment on that,’ and that is what we don’t allow,” she said. “Some people feel that is shortsighted, but that is our policy.”

The purpose of the pope’s push for social media is to get the church’s message out to the people in as many ways as possible. It’s not intended to spark debate; invite opinions and opposing points of view; or open a dialogue between church leaders and parishioners, Brinati said.

Churches have been riding the social-media wave for some time now. Many denominations reach out — either through their own Web sites or sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

By their nature, social media are wide open and egalitarian: Anyone with a keyboard and an opinion is entitled to join the conversation. That makes the incorporation of social media difficult for hierarchical religious organizations or denominations, said the Rev. Anthony Pogorelc, a research fellow at Catholic University’s Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies in Washington.

“In some sense there is a tension between social media and traditional, hierarchical organizations like the Catholic Church,” Pogorelc said. “With social media, everyone has a voice and can say what they want. In the system of the Catholic Church, more weight is given to the key spokespersons — the bishops or leaders of the church — and what they say.”

Some of the Catholic concerns about the rudeness, anger and inappropriate commenting that take place on some blog sites is not typical of Facebook, which is built around like-minded “friends,” experts contend.

“Facebook is a conversation that is already riding on the rails of relationships. The tracks are set. These are people who are friends with whom you share something together,” said Bill Reichart, a social-media consultant in Atlanta who works with faith-based organizations.

To short-circuit the interactive part of social media dilutes the full impact of what the technology can bring to a church and its congregation, he said. The discussion is already going on within members of the church. Social media just give that expression a different forum.

“What a lot of churches fail to realize is social media is already happening in their churches. People are already having conversations; people are collaborating,” Reichart said. “The church may not like what they hear, but it’s better to know and have open and honest discussion of what is going on.”

Mary Ann Brussat, director of the SpiritualityandPractice.com Web site, said Facebook and other social-media sites can help a church educate and inform its members.

“The medium is really totally open and nothing to be afraid of,” Brussat said. “People are using it to share what is meaningful to them, and that’s a function of religion and spirituality.”

The Rev. Stephen Parkes, pastor of Most Precious Blood Church, said his parish since its inception five years ago has used a Web site as an effective means of communicating with parishioners while their church in Oviedo is being built. But he doubts that social media can ever convey spiritual matters as effectively as face-to-face communication.

“We can’t replace personal interaction with technology,” Parkes said.

Even at half-strength, social media can be a powerful tool for churches and their congregations. Parishes within the Orlando Catholic Diocese use their Web sites and Facebook pages to post videos of Sunday sermons; send out last-minute notices and reminders of meetings and events; and provide ways parishioners can volunteer and donate to the church.

“It’s not just for the sake of communication, but lets us use the technology to speak the Gospel to people,” Brinati said.

And that’s not a bad approach to take, Reichart said. Even if the Catholic Church is being cautious in its embrace of social media, at least it is giving careful consideration to the long-term pluses and minuses of the technology.

“A lot of churches think, ‘I’ve got to do this,’ ” he said. “But if you don’t see the lasting value, you are going to give up. You’re not going to persevere. Other things are going to catch your eye.”

SOURCE: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/os-catholic-social-media-20100311,0,5867293.story

PHOTO SOURCE: Alessia Giuliani | AFP | Getty

To begin his first speech on U.S. soil, the ambassador spoke of his role in the United States government, which is to be a “bridge-builder of issues between the United States and the Vatican.” The ambassador noted two challenges that his office deals with: 1) global tensions that are the result of increasing pluralism, and 2) interests between the United States and the Vatican for the sake of the common good.

Ambassador Diaz mentioned that human identity is still a major issue as a result of the drastic changes in cultural dynamics in countries across the globe, which he attributed to “human migrations.” This struggle to define the human identity has made difference–whether those be based on culture, ethnicity, or gender–a threat to the world family. We have become increasingly fearful of the other before we have thought about becoming friends. However, we cannot allow this to continue because the “actualization of person” happens when we are in communion with others. Therefore, developing relationships with others is “not a choice” because we meet God in the other.

“Love offers no shortcut.” In our modern times, where we have a misunderstanding of human identity, we pick and choose who we want to love. This is where religious communities can make a major difference. Religious communities can, and do, come together–no matter what affiliation–to work for the benefit of all. These religious communities recognize that differences in culture can make a great impact on the world. Difference should not be a force of division in the world! Just the opposite is true; culture has been enriched by human diversity.

The “dignity of all persons is no easy task to accomplish”; it is a constant struggle that the Church and the United States have been trying to overcome for some time now. There are many ways that this can be accomplished. One of them is through the human imagination. “Failure to engage the human imagination” is not an option if we wish to foster commonality between cultures.

There is “serious evil in the world” that tries to inhibit the discovery of such commonalities. If we should be humble enough, we could eliminate the hatred that exists between cultures. There is a “great need today…to engage in conversation.” There is where the United States can make significant contributions, according to Ambassador Diaz.

“In the United States of America, a positive approach in relating faith and civil” contributions can work to advance the dialogue between various cultures and beyond religious affiliation. Faith is a positive agent of change in the world. Religion is not to be simply practiced in the privacy of one’s home. Religion and faith should not be left at home. Religion should be brought into the world. The ambassador went on to quote Benedict the XVI: “There is thus an urgent need to delineate a positive and open secularity which, grounded in the just autonomy of the temporal order and the spiritual order, can foster healthy cooperation and a spirit of shared responsibility.”

Persons of different faiths can and should work side-by-side in order to address the differences that exist between us. We are all “transient pilgrims” in this world. Do we spend our time tearing each other apart, or do we build bridges among the members of our human family? We should not take the easy road. “We must do unto others as we should have them do unto us.” This was the pulse of our Father’s love and still “beats in the hearts of people throughout the world.”

US Embassy Holy See

According to Diaz, the mission of the United States government is to engage the Holy See, using what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls “smart power”. Smart power utilizes a wide-range of diplomatic tools that enable us to spread our mission throughout the world. We use this type of diplomacy by focusing on 1) Global Health, 2) Religious Freedom, 3) Human Rights, and 4) Peace and Security.

In terms of promoting global health initiatives, the U.S. government and the Holy See are ready to fight world hunger. However, this goes hand-in-hand with easing the tension of climate change on the planet. During talks about the Copenhagen Accord, several international steps were taken to combat climate change. These include: 1) making a pledge to only raise the global temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius, 2) setting goals throughout the world that help reduce countries’ impacts on climate change, and 3) having transparency to let the world know how those goals are being met.

Countries must now work together to advance the Copenhagen Accord. Caring for persons and caring for the environment are interrelated!! “We need to be mindful of inter-generational solidarity so future generations can share” in the same benefits that we share in now. Universal solidarity is a benefit, as well as a responsibility.

In terms of religious freedom, the United States and the Vatican are working together to promote religious freedom throughout the world because it is a “human right and [a] source of stability for all countries.” The United States is seeking to identify and denounce those countries throughout the world that do not honor religious freedom. Ambassador Diaz quoted Secretary of State Clinton:

The freedom of religion “is the first liberty mentioned in our Bill of Rights, and it is a freedom guaranteed to all people in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights…Religious freedom provides a cornerstone for every healthy society. It empowers faith-based service. It fosters tolerance and respect among different communities. And it allows nations that uphold it to become more stable, secure and prosperous.”

In terms of the protection and advancement of human rights, Ambassador Diaz highlighted one specific area in which the Vatican and the United States are working together, human trafficking. The ambassador stated that there are 12.3 million victims  of human trafficking around the world; women make up 56 percent of those victims. The U.S. and the Holy See have come together in a special way by assisting in the creation of the “first ever inter-congregational effort” against human trafficking. The International Network of Religious Against Trafficking in Persons was formed in October 2009 and includes 30 women religious from 26 nations.

In regards to peace and security, the United States and the Vatican both hold that religion is being used as a “pretext of violence.” Throughout the world, religion is being used to justify the murder of innocent peoples. Ambassador Diaz reminded us that “no Holy War is a just war.” Religion cannot be used as a pretext of violence because the very foundation of all religions is love.

In concluding the 11th Annual Fides et Ratio conference, Ambassador Diaz remarked that the President of the United States (POTUS) and Benedict XVI have called upon all to embrace actions that “promote the common good for all.” The United States is “committed to bridging human differences.” We must “listen to the other; listen with the ear of the heart.” People across the world have a tremendous and deep love for the United States, but that also brings high expectations for the POTUS. However, the same goes for the Catholic Church. The Church is “one of the most important listening posts in the world” because they have international relations with many of the world’s countries. If we simply work together, despite our cultural or religious differences, we can effectively bring change to the world and advance peace.

At the end of the conference, the ambassador took questions from the audience. When asked what he could tell the seminarians for future reference, Diaz stated: “We need religious leaders who know the world, who know the issues of the world and who can wrestle them.” He went on to say that “we are not called to flee from the world. The Church is in the midst of the world. The people of faith are called to be there, to be in Haiti, to be wherever human dignity is trampled.” And finally, the ambassador told us that “we have to remember the past because we do not want the future to be that past.”

Article Sources: The Florida Catholic

Photo 1 Source: St. John Vianney College Seminary

Photo 2 Source: US Department of State